12/7/15 Caulked the shower downstairs today..

Spent the morning taping and caulking the shower

Did the outside too.

Bill and I had a good game of 3-13.  I won but only by a little

Peyton and Isaac posed for me when I stopped at their house.

12/6/15 Went to the VA hospital to visit dad after church and in the evening went to the Boar's Head Festival. Went to Mc Donald's afterwards.

 We went to McDonalds on State Street after the Boar's Head.  Fun time with wonderful family.  Cute hat Aunt Debbie gave Hailey!  Someone made it for her Aunt Debbie  but it didn't fit her.

Visited Bill at the Rehab.  Watched him have therapy.  Bruce, Melissa and the kids came while he was having it.  The kids all made cards for their papa.  He loved his cards.  Hailey and Max had to leave to get ready to be in the Boar's Head. Bruce ran them to school and Melissa, Jack and Evan stayed and visited with me while Bill had therapy.  Bruce came back after dropping the kids off.  At 4:30 I came home to let Mocha out and change for the Boar's Head Festival.  I ate chili too.

Sue was going to come, but when I called to see where she was, she said she couldn't go because her leg was hurting her.  I left.  Dropped off Fireproof to Vikki's so Misty could watch it.  Got to church before Melissa so saved a row of seats.  Melissa, Bruce and the boys got there shortly after.  The performance was amazing.  Such a wonderful job by Hailey and Max and everyone else.  Absolutely beautiful.  Max really sang (moving his mouth lots and doing motions) this year. So proud of him and Hailey.  Afterward it was getting pretty foggy.  Debbie went to Vikki's for a minute and the rest of us went to McDonalds.  Enjoyed our visit and food.

12/5/15 Faith Riders Christmas party

Yikes, my car got hit by someone while I was visiting Bill at the VA hospital today

Our Christmas Party for Faith Riders at Memorial Park

Kathleen and Rocco

Joel and Wes

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Lining up for food....lots of good stuff

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Brian gave a very good message about blessing others

Elaine and the kids she brought from church did wonderful at leading us in Christmas Songs

Everyone was so happy when Bill came in.  He surprised everyone and got a pass to leave the VA hospital to come to the party for a couple of hours

Got up early and made a big roaster full of chili for the Christmas Party tonight.  Went to visit Bill at the hospital.  Chuck and Sue were there visiting. I walked up to the second floor and found  them all.

They had brought him donut holes from Tim Hortons.  We visited and then when it was lunch time we walked to the lunchroom and they left.  Dad had beef and rice.  They said I could eat for free again but I just had a piece of German chocolate cake and coffee.  I had made 2 chicken breast sandwiches and brought them so when we went back to the room I ate one.  Vikki and the twins came and I gave her the other one and she shared it with the kids.  She asked me why I didn't tell her I had an accident with my car.  I told her I didn't.  She showed me a picture of a car with a big dent in it.  She thought it was mine.  I sure was praying on my way out to see it that it wasn't, but it was.  I came in and asked the nurse if they had a video camera in the parking area.  She said yes and left a number so the police would call her.  It wasn't long and a nice young police officer came to help.  He walked out to my car with me and looked at my license, registration and proof of ins.  He was very nice.  Said he would get back to me.  I went back to visit Bill but he was so tired he was falling asleep so said we could leave and he would rest.  The officer reviewed the video and called me to say nothing showed on the video because my car wasn't in view on the camera.  He said he would write up a report on it and I could pick it up in 5 days.  I tried to call AAA while I was at the hospital, but they said there was a high volume of callers and it would be a while.  I didn't have my charger so didn't want to use my cell phone and have to hold that long.  Stopped at Applebees to get their dressing for my salad for tonight.  When I got home, I called AAA.  Made a claim and he took all of the information.  He was a little hard to understand and there was some noise so had to ask him to repeat several things.  He was very nice though.  Said AAA would most likely wave the $250 deductible.  I was happy to hear that where it wasn't my fault.  Got busy making my salad and getting all the things I had to take tonight ready and in the car.  I had made a list on my phone.  Kenzie came over for a little while and wrapped some gifts.  I didn't have much time to talk to her as I was so busy getting everything ready and changing for the party.  She was happy to see Mocha.  She cleaned all of her mess up without me telling her.  She left and I left a couple minutes later.  Got to the party early to help set up everything.  It was a very nice party and everyone was so happy to see Bill when he surprised them and walked in.  They couldn't believe how good he was doing.  We ate, than had a very short meeting, then sang Christmas carols and then Wes showed pics of his missionary trip to Belize.  We all had a very nice time.  I took Bill back to the Hospital at about 7:40.  Dropped him off and headed back to the party.  Saw the last part of Wes's presentation.  Helped clean up and headed for home.

12/4/15 Our favorite family tradition...Went to the Living Nativity tonight. Year 13 for us.

Bruce and Evan looking at the camel as they walked through the town of Bethlehem

Shepherds along the way let us warm up by their fire

We had to take a paper to go on our journey and get stamped.  Hailey just got hers

At the the end, there was no room in the inn so they sent us to the stable and we saw this, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus

Peyton and Isaac looking on!

Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus

Isaac and his daddy

Peyton looking so beautiful

Peyton and Vikki

Vikki and Isaac

Jared, Bruce and Rody at cookie time afterward

Max and Kimmy

Peyton, Rody, and Isaac

Isaac and Evan

Peyton and Kenzie

Jacob and Kenzie

Max and Kimmy....love Max's expression!

Peyton and all her goodies they gave her

Isaac and Kenzie

Bruce and Evan

Vikki and Kenzie

Isaac

Kenzie and Cole

After I got ready this morning, I packed stuff for Bill to take to the VA hospital.  I messaged Kenzie to see if she and Cole wanted to go to the Living Nativity an she answered right away that she did.  I gave her the time to meet me if they wanted to ride with me.  Got there around 9:30.  He just got finished with therapy and breakfast.  I took a coffee with me and I Biscotti that Kimmy and her family gave Bill from the monastery in GA.  It's delicious.  His chaplain came in and introduced himself and prayed for Bill.  We really liked him.  Then Crystal came in with two police officers who acted like they were going to arrest him as a joke.  Of course Bill just put his hands together and said take me.  They were funny and so nice.  We talked to the lady making up the extra bed too and she was an on fire Christian.  Such a blessing to have God surround us with believers.  I visited for a while and then Bill and I went for a walk in the hallways.  After that we went to the lunch room.  They had tole me I could eat for nothing too.  They do so many special things there.  Bill received a quilt, a hat, a cute cloth bag of goodies and they always bring kids ice cream if they are there.  We had  chicken and potatoes for lunch.  Pineapple upside down cake for dessert and Bill had Shebet.  The girls came and the kids had ice cream again.  We went back to Bill's room and visited and then we noticed Bill was getting tired.  I asked if he wanted to take a nap before therapy and he did.  We left and went to Vikki's and stayed there till Kimmy had to leave.  I went to the Family Christian Book store and exchanged a DVD I had gotten that was violent for a good movie. I left there and went to Meijer's to get the rest of the stuff I need for the Christmas Party Tomorrow Night.  Came home and let Mocha out and then ate a chicken sandwich and got ready to leave.  Kenzie didn't come so I figured she wasn't going.  I got to where the Mall is and got a phone call that they wanted to go and were at Ed's car dealership.  I turned around and went to pick them up.  Kenzie told me about Cole's grandma Diane who has a tumor the size of a football in her stomach and is going to have it out.  They asked me to pray.  We did and then Cole asked Kenzie if she took her medicine.  I asked what was wrong and she said her stomach was upset.  We prayed together for her too.  Then she wanted to know if I wanted to hear the good news or bad first.  I said good news.  She told me she had insurance on her car.  Then she told me she was getting her car fixed at her poppi's dealership.  Then the really bad news she said was she got a tattoo. Then she showed it to me and told me what it stood for.  God is greater than the ups and downs.  I was happy that's what she picked.   We were only a few minutes late getting to the Living Nativity.  Vikki, Rody and the twins weren't there yet.  Wes, Gayla and Joel were waiting for us when we got there.  We all sat in church together.  Took up 3 rows.  Wes, Gayla, Joel, Jacob, Kenzie, Cole and I were in one group and everyone else was in the next group.  Missed having Bill with us.  We had cookies and drinks afterward and then Kenzie, Cole and I left to go see Bill. Cole thanked me several times for taking them and said how much he loved it.   I started to go on the expressway like normal instead of staying on Michigan like I should buy no one was coming so I backed up and went the right way.  We got to the VA and Bill was waiting in the hallway by the door we came in.  We had a nice visit and ate more Biscotti.  They loved it too.  Came home and watched the movie I had gotten.  It was a really good one.

Pictures I took from Melissa's Facebook page of the Living Nativity